Mandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva Manjushri

Mandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva Manjushri

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

At center sits Manjushri, the peaceful form of Manjuvajra, a bodhisattva who cuts through ignorance. He is golden, has three faces, and embraces his consort Prajna—iconography as prescribed in the Vajrayana text the Nishpanna Yogavali (Garland of Perfection Yoga). In the four directions are towers with floral motifs spewing from the mouths of makaras that together take the form of crossed vajras, denoting the stable axis upon which Manjushri sits. Rings of lotus petals, vajras, and fire mark the sacred space of the central palace. In the corners are images of Manjushri. Below are Taras and ferocious protectors, including Mahakala and Palden Lhamo as well as a monk who performs the consecration ritual for the mandala. The figural style and ornamental rendering suggest that a Nepalese artist painted this work for a Tibetan patron.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Mandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva ManjushriMandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva ManjushriMandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva ManjushriMandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva ManjushriMandala of Manjuvajra, Tantric Form of the Bodhisattva Manjushri

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.